ASHS 2015 Annual Conference

Plant Biotechnology has evolved from an experimental science to an interdisciplinary effort aimed at increasing crop productivity. Biotech crops have been developed to improve nutritional value, increase biomass, protect against abiotic and biotic stresses and a source of therapeutic protein production among others.  These crops have been cultivated commercially and adopted in a rapidly increasing number of countries over the past 20 years. Sequencing the genome of most common crops plants and development of robust genomics tools has enhanced identification of genes for key traits. This rapid identification of useful genetic information has resulted in a quick transfer of genes and genetic elements using biotechnology into susceptible plants. This workshop will discuss some of the current trends and progress made to integrate genomics and plant biotechnology tools for the rapid development of genetically modified horticultural cultivars. Future trends and prospects for biotechnological applications will also be discussed.